The wasteland was eerily silent as the Dominion approached the enemy's location. The air felt heavier with every step, thick with an energy that pressed against their senses. Shadows twisted unnaturally around the barren rocks, their movements deliberate and foreboding.
Kael stood at the forefront of the group, his grip tightening on the Abyssal Fang. The shard and ring pulsed in his hands, their glow faint but insistent. He could feel the Abyss tugging at him, its whispers sharper and more demanding.
"They're close," Kael said quietly. "And whatever they're doing, it's big."
Ryn moved up beside him, her blade ready. "Then let's make sure it's the last thing they try."
The Enemy's Ritual
As the Dominion crested the ridge, the scene below came into view. A group of enemy cultivators stood in a tight circle around a glowing fissure in the earth. The Abyssal energy emanating from the fissure was palpable, its dark light casting eerie shadows across their faces. At the center of the ritual stood the same armored leader Kael had faced during the ambush, their presence commanding and dangerous.
Dark sigils floated above the fissure, their patterns shifting and pulsating as if alive. The enemy cultivators chanted in unison, their voices blending with the hum of the Abyss. The energy around them grew thicker, warping the air with its intensity.
"They're trying to tap into the Abyss directly," Zereth said, his voice low but sharp. "If they succeed"
"They won't," Kael interrupted, his tone firm. "We stop this now."
Striking First
Kael raised his hand, signaling the attack. Ryn's strike team moved swiftly, their shadows blending into the terrain as they flanked the enemy. Sylas and the scouts circled wide, their movements silent as they prepared to disrupt the ritual from the rear.
Zereth directed the engineers to establish defensive wards, their dark energy anchoring the Dominion's position. Vaelon coordinated the main force, their disciplined formations pressing forward with precision.
Kael led the charge, the shard and ring amplifying his strikes as he carved through the enemy's outer defenses. Shadows surged around him, their energy coiling and striking like living weapons.
The armored leader stepped forward to meet him, their blade clashing with the Abyssal Fang in a burst of dark energy. "You're too late," they said, their voice calm but sharp. "The Abyss answers only to those who understand it."
Kael's gaze hardened. "Then you don't understand it at all."
The Battle Unfolds
The battlefield erupted into chaos as the Dominion clashed with the enemy. Ryn's team struck with precision, dismantling the ritual's outer perimeter and disrupting the enemy's chants. Sylas and the scouts targeted the sigils, their strikes severing the flow of energy to the fissure.
Zereth's wards flared brightly, absorbing the enemy's counterattacks and protecting the Dominion's rear lines. Vaelon's commands kept the main force coordinated, their movements cutting through the enemy's ranks with brutal efficiency.
Kael pressed his advantage against the leader, their clash sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The shard and ring pulsed violently, their energy resonating with the fissure's chaotic power.
"You think you can control the Abyss?" the leader said, their tone mocking. "It will consume you, just as it consumes everything."
Kael gritted his teeth, channeling the shard's energy into his next strike. "Then I'll make sure it chokes."
The Abyss's Response
As the battle raged, the fissure pulsed with growing intensity. The sigils above it flickered and shifted, their patterns becoming erratic. The enemy cultivators began to falter, their chants breaking as the Dominion disrupted the ritual.
But the fissure did not close.
Dark tendrils of energy erupted from the fissure, lashing out at friend and foe alike. The battlefield was engulfed in chaos as the Abyss's power surged, its presence overwhelming.
Kael felt the shard and ring resonate violently, their energy pulling him toward the fissure. The Abyss's whispers roared in his mind, their tone sharp and commanding.
"Come closer," the voices said. "See the truth."
A Desperate Gamble
Ryn fought her way to Kael's side, her expression tense. "The fissure's out of control! If we don't stop it"
Kael cut her off, his voice steady despite the chaos. "I'll handle it. Keep them safe."
Ryn grabbed his arm, her grip firm. "Kael, you can't"
"I have to," Kael said, his gaze unwavering. "This is what I'm here for."
Before she could protest, Kael stepped toward the fissure, the shard and ring glowing brightly in his hands. The tendrils of energy lashed out at him, but the Abyssal Fang cut through them with ease.
The armored leader watched from a distance, their expression unreadable. "You think you can tame it?" they called. "The Abyss doesn't bow to anyone."
Kael didn't respond. Instead, he plunged the Abyssal Fang into the fissure, channeling the shard's energy into its chaotic depths.
The Fissure Sealed
The battlefield froze as a blinding burst of light erupted from the fissure. The tendrils of energy recoiled, their movements growing weaker before finally dissipating. The sigils shattered, their fragments dissolving into the air.
The fissure began to close, its glow fading as the Abyssal Fang drained its energy. Kael stood at the center of it all, the shard and ring pulsing faintly in his hands.
The enemy forces faltered, their coordination breaking as the Dominion pressed their advantage. Ryn's team dismantled the last of their defenses, while Sylas and the scouts forced the survivors into retreat.
The armored leader hesitated, their gaze lingering on Kael before they too disappeared into the shadows.
The Aftermath
The battlefield was quiet as the Dominion regrouped. Disciples moved among the wreckage, tending to the wounded and recovering what they could. The weight of the battle pressed heavily on everyone, but their resolve remained unbroken.
Kael stood near the now-sealed fissure, the shard and ring glowing softly in his hands. The Abyss's whispers were quieter now, their tone contemplative.
"You have seen the edge," the voices said. "But the Abyss is far deeper."
Ryn approached, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "You did it. But at what cost?"
Kael glanced at her, his gaze distant. "The cost isn't over yet."
End of Chapter 75